Dallas Mavericks: Looking back at Kristaps Porzingis before he was drafted

Dallas Mavericks star Kristaps Porzingis was not a sure bet heading into the 2015 NBA Draft. Here is a look back at his pro day and scouting reports.

The Dallas Mavericks are gearing up for the 2019 NBA Draft. The event takes place on Thursday, June 20. The Mavs have just the 37th overall pick, but fans can expect massive league-wide developments to occur on draft night.

The front office has been scouting and working out plenty of potential targets for their pick. The Mavericks could decide to trade for another second round pick as well. That is a story to watch on Thursday.

In honor of the event, let us take a look back at how Mavs big man Kristaps Porzingis was viewed coming into his draft night in 2015.

Background

Porzingis began playing professional basketball at age 16. He played for Real Betis in Sevilla, Spain for three years before declaring for the NBA draft.

During his final season in Europe, KP averaged 11.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, 0.9 steals, and 1.0 block in 21.4 minutes per game. He shot 49.6 percent from the field, 35.9 percent on his 3-pointers, and 75.2 percent from the foul line.

Draft scouting videos

Porzingis entered the 2015 draft as a bit of an unknown. Most fans had never seen him play.

He was listed at 7’1. Porzingis was viewed by most experts as an intriguing high-upside prospect. He had a strong jumper and showed flashes of his rim protecting ability against pro talent in Europe.

There were questions about his role in the NBA, though. Was he big enough to play the five? Could Porzingis hold his own in the paint? Those were just two of many.

Fans can see his DraftExpress scouting video here.

DraftExpress also covered his pro day and produced a clip fans can watch at this link.

2015 draft

The draft took place on June 25 in 2015. The Timberwolves selected Karl-Anthony Towns with the top pick. D’Angelo Russell went to the Lakers at two, and the Sixers chose Jahlil Okafor with the third selection. The Knicks did not pass on Porzingis and took him fourth overall.

The pick was a divisive one. Some New York supporters thought it was a massive mistake while others believed in KP from the jump.

It turned out that Porzingis was a worthy pick. He is one of the top players from the 2015 draft class. Porzingis was an All-Star in 2018. He is recovering from a torn ACL but appears primed for a massive first season in Dallas starting this fall.

For fans wondering the Mavericks chose Justin Anderson with the 21st overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft.

Final thoughts

Dallas Mavericks star Kristaps Porzingis entered the 2015 draft as a bit of a question mark. Some experts had him in the top five and others barely making their ten best. Porzingis was drafted fourth by the Knicks and quickly turned into an All-Star.

The NBA draft is always a series of calculated risks. Picking in the top five does not mean a team gets a surefire difference maker. Some players take unexpected career paths. That is what makes the draft so intriguing for fans. There is always hope that any selection can be a franchise-altering one.

The Smoking Cuban will have all the Dallas Mavericks 2019 NBA Draft content that fans desire, so please check back to the site.